Search

Purpose: Positive intervention effects following lexical retrieval interventions are increasingly reported with people with progressive language impairments; however, generalization of therapy gains are less frequently evident and less well understood. This study sought to explore the impact of specific therapy ingredients on generalization outcomes. Method: Twelve participants with progressive lexical retrieval deficits (four each with semantic variant primary progressive aphasia, logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia, and Alzheimer's disease, amnestic presentation) and their family members participated in a 6-week intervention that aimed to increase access to different word classes (nouns, verbs, and adjectives) through a strategic self-cueing approach. Generalization was actively facilitated through strategy practice in connected speech. Repeated baselines of picture naming and connected speech were conducted prior to intervention and repeated immediately post and at 6 weeks following intervention. Results: All three diagnostic groups showed significant improvements in naming performance post-intervention for all word classes and for both treated and untreated items, demonstrating consistent treatment effectiveness and generalization at the word level. No changes in the informativeness or efficiency of connected speech were found. Conclusions: Despite heterogeneity across participants, widespread evidence of both treatment effects and generalization to untreated items was found for all diagnostic groups and word classes. The consistent within-level generalization across all groups is explored here in relation to optimization of strategy use through incorporation of cognitive scaffolds, strategic practice at the connected speech level, and the inclusion of family members. The absence of across-level generalization to connected speech is also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABSTRACT Objective In light of prior inconsistent findings, this study revisits the relationship between weight suppression and treatment outcome in bulimia nervosa. Aside from differences in methodology, we propose that moderator effects may assist the field in interpreting previous inconsistency. In this study, we considered moderators that might place individuals at risk of broad cognitive and biobehavioral mechanisms implicated in weight (dys)regulation and binge eating, and that within the context of a history of weight suppression, might be associated with especially poor outcomes. Method Participants were 117 female outpatients aged 16-54 years ( M = 25.5) with bulimic disorders treated with enhanced cognitive behavioral therapy. Results Logistic regression indicated that higher pretreatment weight suppression did not predict drop-out or poor treatment outcome (nonabstinence from binging and purging). Moderators of parental history of overweight, childhood body shape, pretreatment body mass index, and the difference between highest and lowest ever adult body weight were analyzed, but no moderator effects were apparent. Discussion This study, along with other negative studies, calls into question the association between weight suppression and treatment outcome. We maintain that moderators may account for inconsistencies, but no candidates were identified in this study. Moderator models could assist us to refine conceptualizations of why some patients high in weight suppression may be vulnerable to poor treatment adherence and outcome and to establish clinical interventions that enhance prognosis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (Int J Eat Disord 2013; 46:586-593) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Determines the prevalence and severity of self-reported depressive symptomatology in rural Western Australia. Identification of some of the risk and protective factors for depressive symptomatology; Lack of perceived social support; Conflict in interpersonal relationships; Link between higher levels of depressive symptomatology and lack of spouse or partner.

Background: To date no research has investigated the link between Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and perfectionism in a clinical sample., Aims: The aim of the current study was to examine whether there is a relationship between PTSD and perfectionism. This is important to address as many studies have demonstrated a link between other anxiety disorders, eating disorders, depression and perfectionism. The research also aimed to examine whether rumination was a mediator of the relationship between PTSD and perfectionism., Method: The sample consisted of 30 participants who were currently in treatment for PTSD., Results: The results suggest that perfectionism and PTSD symptoms were significantly correlated. In addition, rumination was a significant mediator of the relationship between Concern over Mistakes and PTSD., Conclusions: These findings help increase understanding about the relationships of perfectionism and rumination in PTSD and have implications for the treatment of PTSD.